Oil analysis is a scientific way to assess the condition of the lubricant in your engine and detect conditions within your engine that could cause premature wear and/or downtime. A regular oil analysis program lets you build a historic database and watch for trends in a variety of areas.
Think of oil analysis as a cost-effective early warning system. Is there too much diesel fuel in the oil? You may need to check your fuel system. Too much dirt or soot? Maybe you've overextended your drain interval or have a leak in the air intake system. The lab can notice small abnormalities long before you do, so take action before these early warning signs turn into operational problems or engine damage.
The knowledge gained from a consistent oil analysis program can assist you in optimizing your oil drain interval, help increase equipment reliability, and more precisely track operating efficiency and maintenance practices. This combination can help lower total operating costs.
A good oil analysis program can give you information on engine condition and oil quality.
The wear metals section of your analysis, for example, may detect a mechanical engine problem that has nothing to do with your oil. Iron, chromium, aluminum, lead, copper, tin - unusual levels of these metals can be spotted and interpreted by the lab, helping give you valuable information about your engine.
An oil analysis also tells you about your oil. For example, if your oil's viscosity grade is too high, then there could be excessive soot, an over extended drain interval, or other contamination that's making the oil too thick.
The Shell LubeAnalyst aims to keep your business running smoothly by helping to identify potential oil or equipment problems before they become critical. Please visit www.shell-lubeanalyst.shell.com for a lubricants and equipment health check.
Information provided by: Shell Lubricants
